Floor mat



March 8, 1966 F. A, MANN, JR 3,238,554

FLOOR MAT Filed April 12, 1963 INVENTOR @Trae/vm:

United States 'Patent O 3,238,554 FLOOR MAT Fred A. Mann, Jr., 2732 S. Michigan St., South Bend, Ind. Filed Apr. 12, 1963, Ser. No. 272,797 8 Claims. (Cl. 15-217) This invention relates to improvements in floor mats.

Floor mats for use in the entryways of buildings are available in many forms. One common form which is widely used is formed of rubber sections connected together. Such mats have the advantages of retention of shape and position and capability of removing snow and dirt accumulations from the soles of shoes, and ease of cleaning thereof, but are usually heavy and are not capable of removing dust from the shoes of persons walking thereon, nor of effectively wiping or drying the shoes of persons walking thereon. Another type of mat which is widely used is a fiber mat. Such mats have some properties similar to rubber mats, both as to advantages and disadvantages, and also have the additional disadvantages that they absorb moisture and are difficult to clean and to dry.

Light weight throw rugs or mats, such as chenille rugs, are frequently used in entryways either alone or alongside other mats. Such light weight mats can be handled and cleaned easily and periodically, and can be treated to remove dust from the shoes of persons walking thereon. However, the light weight of such mats and the usual lack of body or stiffness thereof subjects them to shifting from desired fiat extended condition by folding or bunching incident to walking thereon and to use thereof, and th-is presents a hazard to their use because of the possibility that users may trip thereon.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a mat wherein most of the advantages of each of the aforementioned prior types of mats are combined.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for mounting a light weight readily folded mat, capable of ready cleaning and effective for the removal of dust and dirt from the shoes of users, in a manner to hold it flat and extended so as to avoid bunching and folding thereof while at the same time permitting rapid and easy mounting and removal thereof and accommodating repeated mounting and dismounting without excessive wear or injury thereto.

A further object is to provide a mat having a marginal frame adapted to receive a flexible light weight rug and of anchoring marginal portions thereof to hold said rug extended, which marginal frame includes shiftable portions which overlies the margins of the flexible rug.

A `further object is to provide a device of this character wherein a carrier formed of shape-retaining material releasably mounts a sheet of flexible matting, said carrier having means for mechanically connecting the matting thereto in a readily removable manner, and including a pivoted part overlying the margin of the matting and normally releasably locked in operative position contacting said matting.

Other objects will be apparent from the following specification.

In the drawing:

FIG. l is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the construction of a marginal portion of a mat carrier unit;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view tak-en on line 2--2 of FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view similar of FIG. 2 but illustrating a modified embodiment of the invent-ion;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a mat taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of a part of the unit.

re l

Referring to the drawing which illustrates the preferred embodiments of the invention, the numeral 10 designates the end portion of a carrier or mounting unit, and the numeral 12 designates a side portion of such carrier or mounting unit. The end and side parts 10 and 12 are preferably interconnected by a thin bottom web or sheet 14. The parts of the carrier and mounting unit may be formed of any suitable material, such as rubber, artificial rubber or synthetic resin. The material selected Will preferably possess limited properties of flexibility and resilience and Will be characterized by normal shaperetaining properties. The carrier may be of any selected size and shape and preferably will be rectangular and provided with two end parts 10 and two side parts 12. If desired, the corners of the carrier may be mitered.

The end parts 10 may be of the construction illustrated in FIG. 2, consisting of an outer section 16 and an inner section 18. The sections 16 and 18 have interfitting laterally projecting knuckle portions 20 which are provided with aligned apertures for the receipt of a hinge pin 22. The inner and outer sections 16 and 18 may constitute extrusions of any desired cross-sectional configuration, and preferably taper in cross-section. One marginal portion thereof, i.e., that of greatest thickness, is cut to form the knuckles 20. If desired, a metal or other reinforcing member 24 may be imbedded within and extended full length of outer section 16 to rigidity the same. One of the sections, here shown as section 16, is provided with a passage therethrough at 26 parallel to the hinge pin 22 and spaced therefrom and preferably so located as to be partially within the body 16 full length and partially interrupted at the recesses thereof which receive the knuckles 20 of the member 18. The knuckles 20- of the member opposite that in which the passage 26 is formed are preferably recessed longitudinally thereof at 28 confronting and normally registering with the recesses defined by the passage 26. A lock pin 30 of any selected length may be inserted in the passage 26 to seat in the recess 28 normally hold the sections 16 and 18 in operative closed position shown in full lines in FIG. 2.

The bottom web 14 may be formed of a center panel 32 and an end part 34 which preferably are both formed of rubber or like material. The member 34 is of greater thickness than the panel 32 and is cemented at 36 at its margin to the outer section 16. A reduced thickness marginal portion 38 of the end part 34 is preferably cemented to the margin of the center panel 32. End part 34 preferably has a groove 40 extending lengthwise thereof at its upper face, which groove is preferably shallow and of substantial width extending full length of the part 34 and also is preferably dovetailed or otherwise configured to mount therein releasably a fiat metal plate 42. Plate 42 is preferably characterized by a plurality of upwardly projecting prongs 44 uniformly spaced along its length and adapted to impale the marginal portion of a removable mat of flexible character, such as a chenille rug, which is of a length slightly less than the spacing between the inner margins of the outer sections 16 at opposite ends of the carrier or mounting unit. The prongs 44 are preferably pointed and sharp so as to readily penetrate the mat 46 and their vertical projection is preferably such that they anchor the mat effectively without projecting excessively thereabove.

The inner section 18 of each end part of the carrier or mounting unit is recessed at 48 to accommodate positioning of the end margin of the mat 46 therebelow when said inner section 18 is in operative horizontal position as illustrated in full lines in FIG. 2 at which it is locked by the lock pin 30. The width of the inner section 18 is preferably such that it extends inwardly beyond the plate 40 and has a surface portion 50 adapted to bear upon the top surface of the mat 46 parallel to and preferably spaced inwardly from the metal plate 42. Upon removal of the lock pin 3), the inner section 18 is adapted to swing upwardly to the dotted line position shown in FIG. 2, whereupon the margin of the mat 46 is exposed and can be manipulated either to release it from the prongs 44 or to impale it upon said prongs quickly and conveniently and without requiring the use of special tools. If desired, a metal reinforcing member 52 may be imbeded in the inner section 18 to extend lengthwise thereof adjacent to and parallel to the knuckles 20 and the pivot pin 22.

The side parts 12 of the carrier or mounting unit may be of any suitable character or construction interconnected to the bottom web 14 or to the outer sections 16 of the end parts of the carrier frame, or to both,.in any suitable manner to provide a unitary carrier or mounting tray. The spacing of the inner margins of the side parts 12 will preferably be less than the width of the mat 46 so that the edges of the mat will be protected thereby, but this is not essential. Also, if desired, the side parts 12 may be of the same construction as the end parts 10, i.e., consisting of an outer section 16 and an inner section 18 pivoted at 22, as illustrated in FIG. 4. In such an arrangement the reinforcing member 52 carried by the inner section 18 of each end part 10 may project therefrom, as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, and be provided with a projecting downwardly offset part 54 which underlies 'the inner section of the side part 12, as illustrated in FIG. 4. 1n FIG. 4 the part S2 is shown as extending into the inner section 18 of the end part 10 to only a small extent at its ends. It will be apparent that since traffic in any entryway will usually be lengthwise of the mat and not crosswise thereof, the pivoted inner sections 18 of the end parts will be held against accidental pivoting incident to walking thereover when 'the parts 54 underlie parts of the side units 12 of the mounting unit. Thus parts 54 may be used in lieu of use of the locking pin 30 and vice versa, and it is not necessary that both locking means 30 and 54 be used in the same unit.

The construction described permits rapid and easy mounting and removal of mat 46 from the mounting unit. Thus when a dirty mat 46 is to be replaced, all that is required is that the locking pins 30, if employed, be released, whereupon the inner sections 18 of both the end parts of the side parts of the frame, where of the construction shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, may be swung to the dotted line position shown in FIG. 2. This exposes the margin portions of the mat which is to be replaced, so that they can be gripped and pulled free of the prongs 44 which anchor them. It will be understood that plates 42 with prongs 44 will preferably be carried by the end parts parts of the carrier mounting unit and will not necessarily be carried by the side parts although they may be carried by the side parts if desired. The dirty mat is thus released from the carrier unit and lifted bodily while the bottom web 14 is exposed and any dirt accumulations therein may readily be swept therefrom and any accumulations of moisture may be wiped therefrom. Thereupon a clean mat 46 may be inserted in the mounting unit by impaling its margins upon the prongs 44. The mounting unit is then restored to operative condition by lowering the inner sections 18 to operative horizontal position and manipulating any locking means, such as locking pins 30 if employed. It will be understood that the locking means are not essential, and that the tapered shape of the inner sections 18 may be relied upon to prevent pivoting of the said inner sections incident to walking of users upon the mat. l

A modified embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 3. In the FIG. 3 construction the carrier unit or mounting tray has end parts 60, side parts (not shown) and a bottom web 64 extending between and connecting said side and end parts. The end part 60 has an outer section 66 and an inner section 68, and these sections are provided with interlitting knuckle portions 70 having aligned apertures which receive a hinge pin 72. Each knuckle portion has a longitudinal rib 74 which is adapted to fit in a mating recess in the edge of the other part between the knuckles of the other part. Such mating recesses are formed by passages 76 in the respective sections 66 and 68 so located that, when sections 66 and 68 are cut to form the knuckles, the cuts will extend through the passage 76 and thus dene the recesses to receive the ribs 74 of the other part. The knucklesv of the parts 66 and 68 fit together sufficiently snugly to effect an interlock of the of the parts by which the inner section 68 is normally held in its horizontal operative position as shown, but is pivotable incident to yielding of the parts so as to facilitate insertion and removal of matting sheet or webbing 78, such as a chenille rug.

The part 66 preferably has a longitudinal reinforcement member 80, such as a metal bar extending lengthwise thereof in a passage thereof. The bottom surface of member 66 is preferably upwardly offset spaced from its louter margin at 82 and a longitudinal groove 84 is formed in the offset part 82 adjacent to the knuckle 70 thereof. The web -64 is of a dimension to underlie the inner section 68 and a part of .the outer section 66 which is recessed, and the margins of the bottom web 64 outwardly of the groove 84 are cemented or bonded to the offset 82 of the outer section 66 at 86.

A metal strip 88 extends lengthwise and projects inwardly from each outer section 66 to underlie a part lof the inner section 68. Strip 88 is anchored by a flange 90 thereof which fits in the groove 84. The strip 88 is provided at the portion thereof which underlies the inner section 68 with a plurality of spaced metal prongs 92 projecting upwardly therefrom. Prongs 92 preferably extend full length of the metal strip 88 and preferably a plurality of longitudinal rows of such prongs are formed in said strip.

The inner section 68 of the mounting unit is preferably recessed or hollowed out at 94 at its bottom surface in inwardly spa-ced relation with the knuckle portion 70 and terminates in a longitudinal marginal portion 96 adapted to bear upon the matting 78 in inwardly spaced relation .to the metal 4plate 88 and the .prongs 92 thereof. If desired, a reinforcing bar 98 may extend longitudinally through the inner section 68 of the frame at or adjacent to the marginal mat engaging part 96.

This modified embodiment of the invention possesses substantially .the same advantages Iand is capable of use in substantially the same manner as described above. The principal advantages of this embodiment over that shown in FIG. 2 are in simplicity of construction and reduction of the number of parts of the device. In this device as in the prior device, .the matting is readily removable and` insertable without requiring the use of special tools, and the position of `the inner section is held without requiring the manipulation or use of lock means or retainers to prevent pivoting thereof when the mat is in use.

While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be understood that changes in the construction may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a lioor mat having a carrier unit for removably mounting a flexible light weight mat of the .type which tends to bunch in use and is readily handled yfor cleaning, said carrier unit comprising marginal parts including opposed end parts,

a bottom web connecting said marginal parts, and

4impaling means carried directly by and projecting above saidweb adjacent said carrier and parts, each of said end parts including elongated pivotally connected inner and outer sections,

said outer sections being connected to said bottom web outwardly of said impaling means,

said inner sections overlying said impaling means with clearance when in operative substantially horizontal position bearing at .their inner marginal portions on `said mat inwardly of said impaling means and being pivotable to a release position substantially upright to expose the adjacent impaled margin of said mat and means for releasably locking said inner sections in said operative position.

2. The construction defined in claim 1, wherein said inner and outer end frame sections are of tapered cross-section with their maximum thickness adjacent the pivot connection therebetween.

3. The construction defined in claim 1, wherein said marginal parts include -side parts spaced a distance less than the width of said mat and receiving the side margins of said mat therebelow.

4. In a floor mat having a carrier unit for removably mounting a flexible light weight mat of the type which tends to bunch in use and is readily handled for cleaning, said carrier unit comprising marginal parts including opposed end parts,

a bottom web connecting said marginal parts, and

impaling means carried directly by and projecting above said web adjacent said end parts,

each of said end parts including elongated pivotally -connected inner and outer sections,

said outer sections being connected to said bottom web outwardly of said impaling means,

said inner sections overlying said impaling means with clearance when in 'an operative substantially horizontal position bearing at their inner marginal portions on said mat inwardly of said impaling means and being .pivotable to a release position substantially upright to expose the adjacent irnpaled margin of said mat,

said inner and outer sections of said end parts being formed of `shape-retaining material and having intertting knuckle portions provided with aligned passages receiving a pivot pin.

5. The construction `defined in claim 4, wherein each knuckle of `said end parts has a. longitudinal rib `and the spaces between knuckles include recesses receiving said ribs when said inner sections are in operative position.

6. The construction defined in claim 4, wherein each knuckle of one section of each end part has a longitudinal recess aligned with a passage in the other section, and

a lock pin is releasably mounted in said passage and mounting a flexible light weight mat of the type which 5 tends to bunch in use :and is readily handled for cleaning,

said carrier unit comprising marginal parts including opposed end parts,

a bottom web connecting said marginal parts, and

impaling means carried directly by and projecting above said web adjacent said end parts,

each of said end parts including elongated pivotally connected inner and outer sections,

said outer sections being connected to said bottom web outwardly of said impaling means,

said inner sections overlying said impaling means when in operative substantially horizontal position bearing on said mat at their inner margins inwardly of said impaling means and a release position substantially upright to expose the adjacent impaled margin of said mat,

said mat impaling means comprising a long strip anchored to said web to extend lengthwise of an end part parallel to and inwardly of the hinge between the inner and outer sections of said end part, and

a longitudinal series of impaling parts carried by said `strip said bottom web having :a groove in the upper face thereof anchoring said strip.

8. The construction dened in claim 1, wherein said impaling means includes a metal plate anchored between said outer section and said bottom web and having a portion carrying said impaling parts projecting inwardly from said outer section.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 584,148 6/ 1897 Robinson 160--398 X 2,138,085 11/1938 Birtles 20-'78 2,202,636 5/ 1940 McClelland 20`-78.3 2,596,635 5/1952 Wolfe 24-251 2,687,545 S/1954 Kara-s 16-16 2,954,310 9/1960 Truesdell et al. 160-398 3,014,754 12/1961 Thurkow 20-7S.6 X 3,100,522 8/ 1963 McIntyre 160-90 FOREIGN PATENTS 436,044 3/ 1912 France.

CHARLES A. WILLMUTH, Primary Examiner.

H. R. MOSELEY, WALTER A. SCHEEL, Examiners. 

1. IN A FLOOR MAT HAVING A CARRIER UNIT FOR REMOVABLY MOUNTING A FLEXIBLE LIGHT WEIGHT MAT OF THE TYPE WHICH TENDS TO BUNCH IN USE AND IS READILY HANDLED FOR CLEANING, SAID CARRIER UNIT COMPRISING MARGINAL PARTS INCLUDING OPPOSED END PARTS, A BOTTOM WEB CONNECTING SAID MARGINAL PARTS, AND IMPALING MEANS CARRIED DIRECTLY BY AND PROJECTING ABOVE SAID WEB ADJACENT SAID CARRIER AND PARTS, EACH OF SAID END PARTS INCLUDING ELONGATED PIVOTALLY CONNECTED INNER AND OUTER SECTIONS, SAID OUTER SECTION BEING CONNECTED TO SAID BOTTOM WEB OUTWARDLY OF SAID IMPALING MEANS, SAID INNER SECTIONS OVERLYING SAID IMPALING MEANS WITH CLEARANCE WHEN IN OPERATIVE SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL POSITION BEARING AT THEIR INNER MARGINAL PORTIONS ON SAID MAT INWARDLY OF SAID IMPALING MEANS AND BEING PIVOTABLE TO A RELEASE POSITION SUBSTANTIALLY UPRIGHT TO EXPOSE THE ADJACENT IMPALED MARGIN OF SAID MAT AND MEANS FOR RELEASABLY LOCKING SAID INNER SECTIONS IN SAID OPERATIVE POSITION. 